Apple has applied for a patent to turn the iPhone into a universal combination …

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"The best camera is the one you have with you" is an old photography adage, and Apple may be looking to extend that principle to its iPhone. And it's not about the iPhone as a camera, either—if you always have it with you, an iPhone could serve as a remote control device for any number of uses, including as a wireless electronic key.

Using the iPhone as an electronic key is part of a recently published patent application titled "Motion Based Input Selection." It's important to remember that the patent application itself merely describes a unique way of using motion detection to generate an input, such as turning a virtual combination lock-style dial. Still, it's the suggested uses of a unique numerical sequence or other combination of input that is generating excitement.

The Telegraph says that the patent is already being referred to as the "iKey" patent, based on the suggestion that a "device" such as an iPhone could use the motion-based input method to generate a combination which is then "transmitted to an external device to unlock the external device." Such an external device could be anything, including an "electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house, or other physical area."

The patent in particular describes methods in which the input could be selecting combinations of numbers, letters, colors, or images, or even a combination. In fact, if the external device is suitably capable, it can send an application the necessary configuration of input needed to unlock it. The possible inputs can also be randomized, and the transmission between the mobile device and the external device could encrypted for greater security.

Since the iPhone is the kind of device you tend to always have with you, it could be a great all-in-one control device. For instance, Apple also recently filed a patent application for using the iPhone as a sort of advanced universal remote—one that can dim the lights, adjust the surround sound, switch the TV to "cinema mode," all in preparation for watching a movie at night. The company already offers an app that can control iTunes or an Apple TV remotely, and other apps exist to control home automation systems or a DSLR tethered to a WiFi-equipped computer. Car security firm Viper also offers an app to lock, unlock, and remotely start a vehicle that has the company's SmartStart electronics installed.

Though many remote applications already exist for the iPhone—including one that locks and unlocks a car—perhaps Apple could leverage the patent's motion sensing to build an app with a consistent interface that is designed to communicate with a wide variety of lock devices, making the iPhone an out-of-the-box electronic key.

52 Reader Comments

This is beyond ridiculous. You cannot patent the idea of a key. There is no invention here. Keys have existed for at least six thousand years. Granting this patent would only further illustrate the extremely absurd state that our patent system is in.

From the the article it sounds like apple is patenting electronic unlocking. Further reading it seems like apple is patenting a means of electronic unlocking based on user input. What will this win them in court against the security company that makes a wireless unlocking device that requires input?

I like the ideas, because they are cool and make sense, but not the patent(s). If not for the 'gestures' part of this, they would basically be re-patenting the garage door opener. But, I imagine that they'll eventually be able to sue HTC and RIM for infringement, since no one will have the good sense or backbone to deny the patent(s).

Mercantec's shopping cart PGP key generator software used (possibly still) motion of the user's mouse to generate the key years and years before the iphone came out. Replacing "Mouse pointer" with "Finger" does not make something novel. Thinkgeek sold a remote operated deadbolt back in the mid/late 90's, probably still does. There have been USB computer lock dongles that lock the computer when the keychain portion moves out of range. There are even systems that unlock doors and similar via SMS, Ars even had an implementation of such a thing linked in the blog/whatever it's called now section recently.

How can you patent the idea of an electronic lock? This is beyond ridiculous.

I've been looking for a WiFi lock. Thought it would be good if I locked myself out I could just jump on my network and unlock the door or could use to let someone into my house remotely. Haven't found a cheap enough one.

I don't care about the patent but the idea rocks. I already use an encrypted password keeper on my iPhone. Anything to extend that functionality is great. I don't want to remember endless password variations to activate things or log on. Yes, it will make loss of iPhone or someone hacking it more of a crisis. That's a tradeoff I'm willing to make. Call it my "one ring to rule them all," lol!

I've been looking for a WiFi lock. Thought it would be good if I locked myself out I could just jump on my network and unlock the door or could use to let someone into my house remotely. Haven't found a cheap enough one.

You can get an Arduino (SparkFun $30) and a Wifi-Shield $50 (802.11b), then wire it up to this electric lock ($50). So that will cost you about $150 once you include extraneous parts. That's decent considering Schlage has a system where just the lock costs $200 and they want a subscription to use the remote service. Also if you are willing to wire it up for things like power you could always use an Ethernet shield instead to less the complexity.

Make sure you aren't drunk or something when you make the gestures for your new lock symbol or you are screwed!

I'm sure there are some stories (or RPG games at least) that have mentioned locks requiring tracing a symbol (perhaps in the air with your finger and maybe saying something at the same time) in order to unlock it...

This is beyond ridiculous. You cannot patent the idea of a key. There is no invention here. Keys have existed for at least six thousand years. Granting this patent would only further illustrate the extremely absurd state that our patent system is in.

Did you not make it to the second paragraph before commenting?

Quote:

It's important to remember that the patent application itself merely describes a unique way of using motion detection to generate an input, such as turning a virtual combination lock-style dial.

Apple is not patenting the idea of a key, because that wouldn't be patentable anyway. The patent is very clearly specific about patenting a method to convert motion sensing into usable input for things like a combination of numbers.

However, it is the suggested uses of that input—i.e. to input a combination for a lock—is what people (at least some) seem to be excited about. The are nearly limitless applications of this idea, though, and the potential is what is most exciting—getting the maximum use from a device that is a) already paid for and b) always at your side.

But just to be absolutely clear, Apple is not patenting the idea of a key, and they couldn't even if they wanted to.

Apple is not patenting the idea of a key, because that wouldn't be patentable anyway. The patent is very clearly specific about patenting a method to convert motion sensing into usable input for things like a combination of numbers.

Right, because nobody ever though of that before... right? The application even mentions shaking the device to simulate rolling dice... BRILLIANT! (oops, hope the Guinness guys don't have a patent entitled 'Usage of the word "Brilliant" in a Ironic context for comedic effect').

Keys do more than just open locks. It looks like an entry point to a mobile payment gateway to me. Using a mobile phone to make small purchases is nothing new of course (just visit Japan) but an implementation for doing so on an iPhone is probably going to pass patent muster.

All in one devices are prone to the same thing, a single point of failure. You lose it or the power dies in it, and you are screwed. Silly idea. Electronic locks all need a back up power supply in case of the inevitable power failure. Does you idiotPhone have one?

This is beyond ridiculous. You cannot patent the idea of a key. There is no invention here. Keys have existed for at least six thousand years. Granting this patent would only further illustrate the extremely absurd state that our patent system is in.

Did you not make it to the second paragraph before commenting?

Quote:

It's important to remember that the patent application itself merely describes a unique way of using motion detection to generate an input, such as turning a virtual combination lock-style dial.

Apple is not patenting the idea of a key, because that wouldn't be patentable anyway. The patent is very clearly specific about patenting a method to convert motion sensing into usable input for things like a combination of numbers.

However, it is the suggested uses of that input—i.e. to input a combination for a lock—is what people (at least some) seem to be excited about. The are nearly limitless applications of this idea, though, and the potential is what is most exciting—getting the maximum use from a device that is a) already paid for and b) always at your side.

But just to be absolutely clear, Apple is not patenting the idea of a key, and they couldn't even if they wanted to.

If that's the case, isn't the Wii a complete prior art for this? Using the wiimote, we take motion sensors (wave your arm!) that gets converted to an input (same as press B) to do an action. Heck, there's tons of mini-games where you rotate the wiimote to simulate turning a combination lock. Same idea.